522 Infectious Disease ProjectRush RoyalsNatalia Rich, Amy Richards, Ryan Rickley, Brianne Riley and Nicole RoehrigIdentify components of the infection chain and specify modes of transmission to disease development following infectious diseases: Ebola, Legionnaires' disease, toxic shock syndrome. For each disease, identify methods to “break” the chain of infection. (This section should not exceed 3,000 words) Description of Ebola Disease The Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 in Africa, near the Ebola River Valley; this rare virus causes hemorrhagic fever and is active in this region, causing mortality rates of up to 90% (Sullivan, Yang, & Nabel, 2003). Until recently, Ebola had not been observed in the United States. Chain of infection The Ebola infection chain begins with the reservoir of the infectious agent. Although information is known about the disease and its mode of action, the natural host or reservoir of Ebola has not yet been identified. Scientists believe that animals such as bats, monkeys, chimpanzees and gorillas are responsible for the spread of the virus to humans (WHO, 2014). Currently, primates and humans are the only mammals known to be infected with the virus (CDC, 2014a). The Ebola virus pathogen derives from the virus family, Filoviridae, which has five identified species: Ebola virus (Zaire Ebola virus); Sudanese virus (Sudanese Ebolavirus); Taï Forest virus (Taï Forest ebolavirus, formerly Ivory Coast ebolavirus); Bundibugyo virus (Bundibugyo ebolavirus); and Reston virus (Reston ebolavirus). The first four species have documented cases affecting humans, but the fifth species only causes disease in primates (CDC, 2014a). The exit portal for the...... middle of paper ......6F%7DMayo Clinic. (2014a). Illness and Conditions – Legionnaire’s Disease. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/legionnaires-disease/basics/risk-factors/con-20028867Mayo Clinic (2014b). Illness and Conditions – Toxic Shock Syndrome. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000273.htmScub, T. and Winn, E. (2005). Quick lesson: toxic shock syndrome. Cinhal Information Systems. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.rush.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=163b920a-312f-4936-b7cf-5b93e17da59d%40sessionmgr4001&vid=37&hid=4212Sullivan, N., Yang, Z ., & Nabel, G. (2003). Ebola virus pathogenesis: implications for vaccines and therapies. Journal of Virology. 77(18), pages 9733-9737. World Health Organization (2014). Ebola virus disease. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/